Pilots Ground Flight After Passenger Smokes Marijuana Onboard
United Airlines pilots opted not to fly from San Francisco to Cancun on Tuesday after a passenger lit up marijuana, leading to a lengthy delay of almost four hours.
According to a viral post on Reddit, passengers aboard flight UA1679 shared that the journey began with a delay due to “technical issues,” followed by another hold-up because of “the one who smoked weed in the bathroom.”
“We waited on the tarmac for 40 minutes while the crew debated their next step,” one passenger described. “The crew was concerned about being exposed, so they left and waited for a new team to come in.”
The captain reportedly expressed fear that exposure to the marijuana smoke might affect future random drug tests. In an announcement, he mentioned, “I’ve worked with United for 30 years and am not about to risk a drug test upon landing in Houston.”
This whole episode left passengers dreaming of a straightforward travel experience obliterated by the smoke. One Reddit user recalled, “We’re still sitting at the terminal, and there’s no sign of a new crew yet. Our initial departure was supposed to be at 8:50 a.m., and now they’re saying we might leave at 12:30 p.m. They handed out a $15 meal voucher, but that hardly makes up for it.”
In response to the incident, flight safety experts deemed the crew’s precautions somewhat excessive but acknowledged their rationale. One contributor noted, “The odds of testing positive from secondhand marijuana smoke on a ventilated aircraft are practically nonexistent. Yet, I completely understand the fear considering FAA drug testing policies, which are strict even for incidental exposure.”
He elaborated, “A positive test essentially means a failed test for marijuana metabolites, irrespective of how the exposure occurred. This could jeopardize a pilot’s career, resulting in investigations and the loss of their license. Pilots are also bound to report any potential disabilities and may feel compelled to disclose even if the risk seems minimal.”
Many Reddit users showed their frustration towards the passengers who instigated the situation. Some expressed that penalties should be harsh, suggesting a fine for each ticket as a consequence. “It should be an automatic lifetime ban across all airlines,” one user stated, adding, “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
Despite the situation’s complications, many propelled sympathy towards the pilot, feeling that he made the wise choice in prioritizing his career over the inconvenience caused by a few reckless passengers.
